Slaven Bilic: West Brom will improve during international break

The Baggies have endured a tough start to life back in the Premier League having taken just one point from their opening four matches.

There were positives to take from the first two games against Leicester and Everton – but they ultimately ended in defeat.

Bilic’s men then secured a point against Chelsea, but should have taken all three after being 3-0 up at half-time.

Those displays, though, were then followed by a poor showing at Southampton, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side running out comfortable winners at St Mary’s.

It means – in just four matches – the Baggies have conceded 13 goals.

And Bilic is pleased to have some extended time on the training ground with his players as they work to tighten up at the back.

“We’re going to use this time to work on things and improve everything,” the head coach said.

“It has come at a good time. We have to use any time we have to improve.

“We have to become a team that is more aggressive and works hard – those were the things lacking at Southampton. And in my view, everything starts with that.

“We had a rest for a couple of days, but there is no learning process in the Premier League.

“In the games before Southampton, we showed that aggression. We need to stretch that out over 90 minutes.

“It’s extremely difficult to speak about the Southampton game because it wasn’t just in one area where we were lacking and everything else was right.

“They were quicker, they were sharper and they were better on the ball.

“Their aggression was better than ours so we have to improve in everything.”

Meanwhile, Callum Robinson hopes Albion’s fans are soon allowed into The Hawthorns – with the striker believing they will give the team a big boost.

The 25-year-old is set to feature for the Republic of Ireland tonight in their UEFA Euro 2020 play-off semi-final clash away to Slovakia.

But he is eager to be playing in front of Baggies supporters as soon as possible – and feels they could have been the difference between one point and three against Chelsea.

“We’re back in the Premier League and the fans would be roaring us on and celebrating and helping us along the way which isn’t happening at the moment,” Robinson said.

“You take the fans for granted when you’re scoring goals or winning games.

“But with Chelsea at The Hawthorns, for instance, that game they come back into it and got the three goals. But you could say if there were fans roaring us on to keep going that might not have happened.”

Elsewhere, promising Albion striker Owen Windsor is set to join League Two Grimsby on loan, the Express & Star understands.

Snapped up from Cirencester Town in 2019, Windsor has caught the eye for Albion’s under-23s this season, scoring five goals in five matches.